Vending machine



feb. 27, 1940. F. F. PULVER 2,191,585

VNDING MACHINE Feb. 27, 1940. F. F. PULVER VENDING MACHINE ssneetsisneet 2 Filed Aug. 22. 1956,

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Feb. 27, 1940. F. F. PuLvER VENDING MACHINE Filed Aug.22, 193e` '3Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Feb. 27, 1940l UNITED STATES VENDING MACHTNE yFrank F. Pulver, St. Petersburg, Fla., assigner to Alliancel lInvestmentCorporation,

Geneseo,

N. Y., a corporation of Florida a Application August 22, 1936, SerialNo. 97,446

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in vending machines, and itsobjects are as follow: First, to provide a vending machine wherein thereis an improved windup mechanism for a sounding device whichv coacts withan image that is movable in part by the same mechanism.

Second, to provide for the simultaneous operation lof the Wind-upmechanism and the goodsdispensing plate, by the insertion of the propercoin and the full pushing in of the` plunger.

Third, to provide a detent by which to hold the fly-fan of the wind-upmechanismback until the plunger has returned to its original position.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification,reference being hadto the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view ofthe vending machine, particularlyillustrating the outside casing. v

Figure 2 is a front elevation of 'the vending mechanism, the casingbeing removed.

Figure 3 is a central, vertical section of the vending mechanism, taken'on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a detail sideelevation of the plunger Adevice of the wind-upmechanism in the initial position, parts being in section.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the plunger device illustrating a changein position of the parts `upon the insertion of a coin.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the plunger 4device illustrating the acto f pushing the plunger.

Figure 7 is a partially sectional and elevational view illustrating therelease of the coin upon the return of the plunger.

Figure 8 is a detail plan view of the plate latch.

Figure 9 is a front elevation of the plate latch.

Figure 10 is a side elevation of the wind-up mechanism motor in theinitial position, matche ing Fig. 4, parts being in section.

Figure 11 is a similar viewof the` motor, showing it "wound for anoperation andr matching Fig. 6 in position. v. l

Figure 12 is a similar View of the motor, showing a position in itscycle of operation.

Figure 13 is a rear elevation of the wind-up ymechanism.

Figure 14 is a vertical section `takengon the linev |4-l4 of Fig. 4.

Figure 15 is a vertical section taken onthe line |5-l5 of Fig. 5.

Figure 16 is a vertical section takenon the line lli-I6 of Fig. 5. l

Figure 1'7 is a detail vertical section takenon the line Il-ll of Fig.16. 'f

'articles-may bev entirely different from those shown, without affectingthe working Aof the invention.

The casing 2 has additional, but unglazed openings Ill, II, l2 and I3.The first of these makes ythe button l4"of a switch-over deviceaccessible to the purchaser, which device, upon movement of the buttonto one side or the other, causes the switch-over device to releasearticles in one or the other ofthe stacks 8, 9. The second opening makesthe` coinslot l5 accessible; the third opening makes the plunger 'Haccessible and the fourth opening enables the purchaser to reach in andremove the vended article. The front of the 25 casing has any desiredlegends applied to it, those shown inthe drawing (Fig. 1) merely beingsuggestive. l

The frameworkl (Fig.2) comprises at least four legs I1. These areconnected at the bottom in pairs by angle irons I8. The two pairs oflegs are con- 1 nected by angle irons I9, 20, and all of the legs Aareyfurther connected by Aa top plate 2l which "has openings cut'through itat necessary places in order to provide passages for those parts of themechanism that go through. An upright 22, which actually consists ofAseveral parts, but functionally is one part, extends upwardly from aplace of'connection to the top plate 2|, and partly carries a support234 (Fig. 3) which is further 40 carried-by the guide member 24 (Fig. 2)in which the vendible articles are arranged in stacks.

' It is to the support 23 that the image 6 is attached as at 25 (Fig.2). The upright portion of the support 23 is faced with a mirror 26,which, in this instance, is a polished metal plate. The purpose of themirror is to reect the image and. thereby to` apparently increase thedepth of the View. -v

The previously v,mentioned switch-over device v does not form any partofthe instant invention, I

but in order to enable the reader to intelligently follow thisdescription it is briefly described thus:

The button I4 is attached to a rocker` 2l (Fig. 3)

arcuate slot 29 in a face plate 30. A small shaft 3l (Fig. 3) providesthe pivot for the rocker` 21, the ends of the shaft being secured to theupright 22 and the face plate 30. A coin guard 32 is fastened to therocker. A link 33 is pivotally connected at its ends to the rocker 21and to a switch plate 34 (Fig. 2). This plate is pivoted at 35 to whatis herein known as the goodsdispensing plate 36. The switch platecarries a pair of pushers 31, 38, (Fig. 2) arranged in angledrelationship to each other, one or the other of which is brought intooperative position 4behind the lowermost article of the respective stackas the button I4 is moved into the left lor vright position in th-e slot29. According to the present adjustment, the button is in the left-endposition, and the pusher 31 is elevated to the operative position behindthe lowermost article 39 in the stack 8 as the consequence. A forwardrock'- ing of the plate 36 will push the lowermost article out.

When the lowermost article 39 is displaced in the manner just indicatedit falls into a chute 46 which directs the article to .a place in thecasing 2 (Fig. 1) immediately behind the opening I3. The purchaserreaches through the opening and withdraws the article. This ends thebrief description of the switch-over device.

A rockable shaft 4I has the goods-dispensing plate 36 permanentlysecured to it at 42 (Fig. 13). This shaft is conveniently made square incross section (Fig. 3), although not necessarily so, its ends 43 beingrounded so as to turn in holes inthe upright 22 and the portion 44 ofthe guide member 24 which thus provide journals. It is at this pointthat the wind-up mechanism is introduced and its construction is asfollows: A back-plate 45 (Fig. 13)` is secured to the shaft 4I as at 46.This back-plate has angled sides 41, 48 (Figs. 13 and 16) which areperforated at 49 (Fig. 17), to admit the shaft 4I.

The angled side 41 has an extension 59 which provides an arm. Near itsextremity this arm carries a pin 5I (Fig. 3) to which one end of each ofa spring 52 and a link 53 are connected. The other end of the spring isanchored to the angle iron 26 and since the spring is contractile, ittends to keep the back-plate 45 in its normal forward position (Figs. 3,4 and 5). A rocking of the plate 45 and of the shaft 4I which carriesit, at the beginning of a vending operation, will be against the tensionof the spring 52. This spring, when permitted, will restore thebackplate and shaft to the original position` in completing the vendingoperation. Y

A third angled side 54 of the back plate 45 (Figs. 13 and 16) providesthe supportfor one end of a pivot pin 55, the other en d of the pinbeing supported by the angled side 41. The bottom edge of the back platehas an opening 5 6 out into it (Fig. 16) and has other openings 51, 58situated laterally of the opening 56. The various openings are spacedfrom each other by intervening tongues 59 which provide Vbackings forthe coin 6I). 'Ihe coin is supported upon rests 6I, 62. The rst of theseis formed from the metal which is bent away from the plate 45 inproducing the opening 58.

The other rest 62 is formed by similarly bending a portion of the metalof a spring plate 63. Both rests are bent forwardly, and the distancebetween their adjacent edges is gauged to be slightly less than thediameter of the coin 66 (Fig. 16) thereby supporting the coin againstthe backing tongues 59 as long as the rest 62 of the spring plateremains in position in the opening 51. The rest 62 is subject to beingdisplaced from said opening, and that occurs when the spring plate 63 isswung on the pivot pin 55 to which it is attached by means of its angledsides 64.

As shownin Fig. 13 as well as Fig. 4 et seq., the spring plate 63 ishoused between the angled sides of the back plate 45. IThe third angledside 54 of the latter is cut suiliciently short (Fig. 16) to provideample room for a laterallx7 extending detent 65 (Fig. 13). A light coilspring 66, Wound around the pivot pin 55, has its opposite ends press'edagainst the respective plates 45, 63 (Fig. 5) so as to normally hold thetwo plates together. The spring plate 63 is adapted to be automaticallyswung on its pivot 55 toward the end of a vending operation (Fig. 7)because of its being detained by a plate latch 61.

This detention of the spring plate 63 exercises a drag o-n the backplate 45 which in the period of swinging of the spring plate isreturning from a Vending operation accomplished by the dispensing plate36. The purpose of exercisingthe foregoing drag is to prevent the backplate 45 from slamming forwardly as would occur by the unrestrictedaction of the'spring 52.

This plate latch hangs loosely from a pivot 66 on an angled bracket 69which is fastened to the angle iron 26 (Figs. v8 and 9). A portion ofthe bracket is bent aside to form a stop 16 against which the latch 61normally gravitates (Fig. 3), and against which it is forced by theforward pressure of the spring plate 63. when the latter returns withlthe back plate 45 (Fig. 7).

Immediately to the front of thedouble plate assemblage 45, 63 is acylinder 1I (Fig. 3). The

right or forward end of this cylinder is secured at 12, for example bywelding, to a supporting plate 13. This plate is screwed at 14 (Fig. 2)to the angle iron I9 and an extension v'I5 of the top plate 2l. The boreof the cylinder registers with a hole 16 in the front plate, throughwhich the purchaser pushes with his yfinger (arrow a., Fig.

6) against the plunger 11 inthe cylinder. The

plunger is moved vinwardly of the cylinder by finger pressure, andoutwardly by the pressure of a spring 18 behind the plunger.

This spring rests against a closure cap '19 which is secured a't 86(Fig. 5) over the left or inward end of the cylinder 1I. A boss 8l onthe cap has a central bore to guide thev stem 82 of the plunger. rSaidplunger has a lateral pin 83 (Fig. 5) that projects through a slot 84-inthe adjacent side of the cylinder (Fig. 4) and then swingably carries akdog 85. Said dog coacts with an adjacently fixed rack 86 rin preventinga premature return of the plunger 11 after the latter has been pushed into begin a vending operation.

The rack 86 is part of a bracket 81'Which isat one end at 94 to thelower throat plate "9I.` `The two plates are virtually a unit. They areformed with slightly different curvature's (Fig. 4) so as to space theupright. portion 95 a slight 9| (Fig. 5). The upriglitpotidzn v95isiriter- 'I'he`bracket 81 is uthus rigidly heldI Vdistance from theu'prightportion 96 'of the plate y the coin space.

locked with the ears 90 by a notch arrangement 91 (Figs. 4 and 15). Saidupright portion has a pair of tangs 98 (Figs. 5k and 15) which are bentforwardly in substantial parallelism to the normal pitch of the backplate 45. The space between the two throat plates is so gauged that thetip of the stem 82 will not project beyond tangs 98 when the latterarebent to their proper inclination. In other words, the throat 99 lmust beclear and unobstructed forthe entrance of the coin 60.

The coin space is maintained by the ears 90. These project at (Figs. 4and '7) a sufficient distance to the rear side `of the portion 95 tostop the back plate 45 in a position that will produce The rests 6I, 62(Fig. 16) project into the coin space and initially support the coin inline with the plunger stem 82. The coin, being interposed between theswinging plate assemblage 45, 63, and thestem 82, convertsa full inwardpush on the plunger 11 into a vending operation. If a slug with a centerhole were inserted in place of the coin, the stem 82 wouldgo throughboth said center hole and through the opening 56, and would merely turnthe spring plate 63 on its pivot with no effect upon the vendingmechanism.

A pin |0I (Fig. 4) on the side of the bracket 31 provides a mount for alever I 02 (Fig. 3). 'Ihe forward end of this lever has a heel |03 whichis adapted to be depressed by the lateral pin 83 when the plunger 11 isin its extreme forward position. The inward end |04 of the lever |02 isnormally held up by the detent 65 (Figs. 3 and 13). The lever |02 issuiciently out of balance to cause the left end |04 todrop slightly whenthe detent 65 is displaced from its position thereunder when the plunger11 is pushed inwardly.

A wire |05 extends up from the end |04 to the detent |06 of the fly-fan|01 of the motor generally designated |00 (Fig. l3). This motor is aninseparable part of the improved wind-up mechanism. This mechanismcomprises allv of `the active parts already described in connection withFig. 3, and the views depending thereon. In order that the motor may beunderstood, attention is directed to Figs. to 13 for the construction.

The previously mentioned link 53 is connected at its upper end to thewrist pin |09 of a dog disk IIO, which carries a pivoted dog III. Thedog is so formed that gravity may be depended upon to keep it swunginwardly toward a ratchet wheel I I2, or if this fails, it may bepressed upon by a light spring (not shown) Said ratchet wheel is fixedon one end of an arbor I I3 (Fig. 13) which is loose on a shaft |I4 andwith respect to which the dog disk |I0 can turn independently. The arborcarries a master gear I I5 which is the beginning of a gear train II6vthat ends at the shaft ||1 of the ily fan |01. 'I'his train consists ofsuccessive increases in ratio so thata slight angular motion of thearbor I|3 results in a rate of rotation of the shaft I I1 which is highenough to cause the ily fan tol beat the air sufficiently rapidly toexercise a desired governing effect upon the motor.

One of the intermediate shafts |I8 (Fig. 10) of the gear train has a pindisk ||9aflxed to it. 'I'his disk has one or more pins |20 (two beingshown) projecting from one of its side faces. These pins are intended toperiodically strike the short end of an arm I2I that is pivoted at |22to the motorframe I 23. A wire link |24 extends from the arm |2I to aconnector |25 on the movable section |26 of a bellows |21. This bellowsmay be of any known construction, and it may comprise any equivalentcontrivance for producing an impulse (a puff of air in this instance)for the working of a soundingv device |28. Said device is here shown inthe form of a whistle (Fig. 2) which will emit a sound every time thevbellows is worked by the passage of a pin |20 across the inner end ofthe arm |2I.

The function of said arm is to lift the movable section |26. A weight|29 returns the latter to its closed position and it is upon this returnthat a puff of air is driven through the whistle I 28. Simultaneouslywith the foregoing lifting of the movable section |26, a second wirelink |30, also joined with the connector. |25 (Fig. 3) turns the Withthis conclusion of the description of thev motor, attention is directedagain to the coin slot I5 (Fig. l). This has a trough |34 (Fig. 3)cornmunicating with it. The trough is directed to- The sounding of thewhistlev ward the coin throat 99 so that the coin takes the I (Fig. 1)takes the path indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 5, and ends in thefull-line resting position upon the rests 6I, 62 (Fig. 16). now pushesthe plunger 11 with one finger (arrow a, Fig. 6). Functionally, theplunger 11 and its stem 82 are one. 'I'he push is imparted to theabuttably positioned coin 60 by the stem 82, and

lit results in swinging the plate assemblage 45, 63'

from the position in Fig. 5 to the position in Fig. 6. As is presentlyseen, the plate 45 thus becomes the active part of the wind-up mechanismthat is coupled to the motor |08.

The elevation of the-arm 50 puts the spring 52 under tension and at thesame time moves the link 53 from the position in Fig. 10 to the positionin Fig. 11, the arc of movement being indicated at b, in Fig. 11. Thedog III of the motor |08 is thus moved to a new position in reference tothe ratchet ||2 (Fig. 11) The movement of the lateral pin 83 from itsposition over the heel |03 (Fig. 3) enables the inward end |04 of thelever |02 to drop. 'I'he detent |06 thus falls from its unobstructingposition (Fig. 3) to an obstructing position against the fly-fan |01,Where it remains until the plunger 11 returns to its original position.

Having pushed the plunger 11 all the way in (Fig. 6) the purchaserwithdraws his finger. 'Ihe spring 18 (Fig. 5) forces the plungerforwardly The purchaser g, Fig. 7).

forward motion (arrow f, Fig. 7) the spring plate lags behind,incidentally exercising a drag on the back plate. This withdraws therest 62 from beside the coin Gil, letting the letter fall (arrow Thespring plate 53 stays in its detained position virtually during theentire return motion of the back plate. Inasmuch as the return of theplunger il is very rapid after the nger pressure has been releasedtherefrom, it follows that the lateral pin 53 acts upon the heel H93 toraise the detent Hi8 from the fly-fan l'l approximately at Vthe verybeginning of the return movement of the back plate 45.

The spring 52 simultaneously returns the 15 back-plate and pulls down onthe link 53 (arrow h, Fig. l2). This causesthe operatic-n of the geartrain. The ily-fan I'i governs the gear train and moderates the returnmotion of the back plate. As the gear train works, the pins 12Bsuccessively rock the arm 52S. Sounds are emitted from the Whistle l2@simultaneously with the animation of parts of the image E.

The rocking of the shaft il by the initial push or" the plunger 'il(Fig. 6) also rocks the dispensing plate Et. The function of this plate,as previously brought out, is tovdisplaoe one of the articles 39 (Fig.2). There is a simultaneous operation of the wind-up mechanismcomprising all of the movable parts in 13, and the goodsdispensing plate35.

As indicated before, the sole iunction of the dog 85 and the rack 8,6 isto prevent less than a full inward stroke of the plunger Il. If thepurchaser should release the plunger after having pushed it only partway, the dog 85 will brace itself against the rack and hold -the plungerin a stopped position. It will be necessary to push the plunger all theway to make the dog clear the rack, and this is necessary in order tobring qu()A about a vending operation.

I claim:

l. In a vending machine, means to support a stack of vendible articles,a goods-dispensing plate disposed adjacent an end of said stack andhaving means by which to displace a vendible article from said stackupon movement of said plate, a turnable shaft fromwhich the dispensingplate is pendent, coin controlled means for turning the shaft, includinga back plate also pendent from the shaft in laterally oiset relationshipto the dispensing plate, a spring connected to the back plate being putunder supertension by a coin-controlled movement in one direction of theback plate, and means exercising a'drag on the back plate upon vitsreturn movement by action of said spring. 1

2. In a vending machine, means to support a stack of vendible articles,a goods-dispensingplate disposed adjacent anend of said stack and hav-`ing means by Which to displace a vendible article from said stack upon.movement of lsaid plate, a turnable shaft from, which the dispensingplate is pendent, coin controlled means for turning the shaft',including a back plate, also pendent from the shaft in laterally offestrelationship to the dispensing plate, a spring connected tothe backplate being put under supertension by a coincontrolled movement in onedirection of the back plate, an element' loosely carried by the back"4from the shaft in laterally offset relationship to the dispensingplate, a spring connected to the back plate being put undersupertension` by a coin-controlled movement in one direction of the backplate, an elementV loosely pivotedk tothe back plate, a spring tendingto keep said element pressed against the back plate, and a dog tointercept said element at the end of movement of the back plate in saidone direction, displacing said elementfrom the back plate against thetension of the respective spring upon its return movement and exercisinga drag on said back plate.

FRANK F. PULVER.

